Conflicts of Interest Policy

To ensure transparency and uphold the integrity of the publication process, the Journal of Sports Science Academy (JOSSA) has established the following conflicts-of-interest policy, which applies to editors, reviewers, and authors.

1. For Editors

Editors are responsible for maintaining an unbiased review process and must avoid handling manuscripts where any potential conflict of interest exists. Specific guidelines include:

• Editors must decline to manage a manuscript if they have a personal, professional, or financial relationship with the authors or organizations involved.
• Editors cannot serve as handling editors for manuscripts they have authored or co-authored.
• Editors are required to disclose any potential conflicts of interest to the editorial board to ensure impartiality in decision-making.

2. For Reviewers

Reviewers play a critical role in the peer review process and are expected to:

• Immediately decline a review assignment if they identify a conflict of interest, such as a personal, professional, or financial connection with the authors or institutions involved.
• Inform the assigned editor if any concerns about potential conflicts arise during the review process.
• Avoid reviewing manuscripts authored by researchers from the same institution to maintain objectivity.

3. For Authors

Authors are required to disclose all potential conflicts of interest, including financial relationships, personal connections, or affiliations that may influence the interpretation or outcomes of their research. Specific responsibilities include:

• Declaring all sources of funding and financial support for the study in the manuscript.
• Providing a detailed statement of any conflicts of interest when submitting their manuscript. This statement should either confirm the absence of conflicts or outline the nature of any potential conflicts.
• Ensuring that only individuals who have made substantial contributions to the research are included as authors, following ethical authorship practices.

4. Conflict Disclosure Submission

Authors must submit their conflicts-of-interest statement as part of the manuscript submission process via the journal's online system. Failure to disclose conflicts of interest may result in manuscript rejection or retraction after publication.

5. Commitment to Transparency

The Journal of Sports Science Academy (JOSSA) is dedicated to fostering transparency and integrity in academic publishing. Any potential conflicts of interest will be clearly disclosed in the published manuscript to maintain trust among readers, authors, and the broader scientific community.